Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life
1. Introduction
The paradox of the incarnation reaches a powerful crescendo in the birth narrative: the King of Kings, the one through whom all things were made (Colossians 1:16), entered the world not in splendour, but in squalor—laid in a manger, a feeding trough for animals (Luke 2:7). This stark juxtaposition between divine majesty and human lowliness unveils the paradox of God’s self-lowering and the redemptive significance of humility.
2. Christ the King of Kings
2.1 Scriptural Testimony
- 1 Timothy 6:15 – “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”
- Revelation 19:16 – “On his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS.”
- Isaiah 9:6–7 – “Of the increase of his government… there shall be no end.”
2.2 Theological Affirmation
- Christ is the eternal Son and sovereign over all creation, enthroned before time began.
- His kingship is universal, eternal, and divine, not dependent on human recognition.
3. Yet Born in a Manger
3.1 Scriptural Account
- Luke 2:7 – “She brought forth her firstborn son… and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
- Philippians 2:6–7 – “Though he was in the form of God… he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness.”
3.2 Symbolism of the Manger
- A manger symbolises poverty, vulnerability, and rejection, not royalty.
- It illustrates that Christ came to identify with the lowliest, not the elite.
4. Theological Resolution: True Royalty Hidden in Humility
| Divine Identity | Human Experience | Theological Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| King of Kings | Cradled in a manger | Christ’s kingship was not diminished by His birth but revealed through humble incarnation |
4.1 Incarnational Majesty
- Christ’s rule began in paradox—His throne was a manger, His crown of glory was delayed by a crown of thorns.
- Divine kingship does not depend on appearances, but on redemptive mission.
4.2 Humility as the Mark of Divine Greatness
- Matthew 20:28 – “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”
- Christ redefined power through service, and glory through humility.
5. Historical Theological Perspectives
5.1 Early Church
- Origen: The manger shows that “God is not ashamed to be born in filth to lift us from it.”
- Irenaeus: God’s condescension is the pattern of redemption—He stoops to raise.
5.2 Medieval and Reformation Thought
- Anselm: The humility of the Incarnation was necessary for the satisfaction of divine justice.
- Luther: “God became small for us in Christ; he showed us the depth of his love by being born in poverty.”
5.3 Modern Reflections
- Karl Barth: “The Word did not merely become flesh, but became poor flesh—Christ in the manger is God’s protest against pride.”
- Bonhoeffer: “God is in the manger: wealth in poverty, light in darkness, joy in abandonment.”
6. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications
6.1 Redefining Greatness
- The manger corrects human notions of power and success—true greatness lies in descent, not ascent.
6.2 Encouragement for the Lowly
- Christ’s birth in obscurity affirms that no place is too low for God’s presence.
6.3 Invitation to Imitate Humility
- Philippians 2:5 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…”
- The paradox calls us to exaltation through service, not self-promotion.
7. Conclusion
The King of Kings entered human history not with trumpets but with the cries of a newborn, not on a throne but in a manger. This paradox of glory veiled in humility declares the radical nature of divine love: that God would stoop so low to lift us so high. In Christ’s birth, kingship was not concealed, but revealed—through meekness, not might.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Origen. Homilies on Luke
- Irenaeus. Against Heresies
- Anselm. Cur Deus Homo
- Luther, M. Christmas Sermons
- Barth, K. Church Dogmatics
- Bonhoeffer, D. God Is in the Manger